Army vice chief Campbell confirmed for ISAF post; Votel goes to SOCOM

Jul. 24, 2014 - 06:00AM
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US Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John F. Campbell was confirmed July 24 as the next commander for NATO's International Security Assistance Force and US Forces in Afghanistan. (Win McNamee / Getty Images)

The Army’s vice chief of staff, Gen. John Campbell, was confirmed Wednesday as the next commander for NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan.

Campbell will replace Marine Gen. Joseph “Fighting Joe” Dunford as ISAF commander. Dunford was confirmed at the Wednesday hearing as the 36th commandant of the Marine Corps.

Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel was confirmed to succeed Navy Adm. William McRaven as head of U.S. Special Operations Command.

On his Facebook page, Campbell said he was notified late on Wednesday of the Senate confirmation. President Obama had nominated Campbell for the new post.

Campbell congratulated Dunford and said he looks forward to the transition with his successor, Gen. Dan Allyn.

“Ann and I feel so very honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to serve our great Soldiers and Families as the 34th Army Vice Chief of Staff team and look forward to transitioning with the newly confirmed 35th Army Vice Chief of Staff team, my good friend General Dan Allyn and his wife Debbie,” Campbell wrote.

He did not say when the transition would take place, but until then, he said, “I remain committed to my duties as Vice Chief of Staff while simultaneously preparing for my next ‘Rendezvous with Destiny’ in Afghanistan.”